National School Lunch Has Lower Standards Than Fast Food

If you can't fathom putting fast food into your body, then imagine what it must be like to eat lunch at one of our nation's public schools. According to an investigation by USA Today, when it comes to food safety, fast food chains such as McDonald's, Burger King, and Jack in the Box perform more diligence than the USDA does with the National School Lunch Program.

The top two burger chains test their ground beef five to 10 times more frequently than the USDA tests beef made for schools, and other chains, like Jack in the Box, set limits for bacteria in burgers that are 10 times more stringent than what the USDA sets for school beef.Reporters also found that the USDA has spent upwards of $145 million on spent-hen meat for schools — that's meat from old birds past their egg-laying prime that might otherwise go to compost or pet food.

In 2010, Congress will review the Child Nutrition Act, which oversees the National School Lunch Program. I've always supported initiatives like Slow Food's Time For Lunch Campaign, and now they seem more necessary than ever. Are you surprised by the standards for school lunch?

what the fuk that is nasty im in high school and ughh thats disgusting

5 years

I dont want to pick on you Mom's - I know you try. I agree school lunch has a lot of improvement to be done, but dont kid yourself that just because you "pack" your kids lunch that it is better than the stuff the school shells out. White Bread - Mom Yuck... Nothing but genetically modified chemical mess, Ok but you say "No its Wheat Bread" another yuck. Unless you grew and ground the wheat yourself - you have no idea what is in it...read the label. If it does not say "GM free" or "Organic" you just gave your child herbicides and pesticides...good job Mom! I know now your Mad the USDA would never let you do that now would they? Please start reading, watching videos, find out what is really in our foods.

5 years

I've known this for years... they talked about it on fast food nation and a couple of other documentaries i've seen. My daughter is 10 now, and has never ate a school lunch. When i was a little girl, my mom didn't feel right about it, she just felt they didn't even look healthy, so i always brought a lunch. I'm surprised that people find this surprising.

and yet people are surprised when kids are obese and unhealthy... This is a SCHOOL, where they go to learn for 6+ hours a day. It's pretty pathetic that this is okay, and you know, dog food is TERRIBLE.. another thing that shouldn't be allowed. We really really need stricter bans on chemicals and food quality.